Mechanical pool table



Oct. 5, 1948. F. RADINSKY MECHANICAL POOL TABLE Filed July 19, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FELIX RAD/"SKY 4 She ecs-Sheet 2 F. RADINSKY MECHANICAL POOL TABLE wm h mw\, V um M Qw Oct. 5, 1948.

Filed July 19, 1944 FELIX moms/n Oct. 5, 1948. F. RADINSKY MECHANICAL P601. TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 19, 1944 Qwuwwbom f l/X FAD Oct. 5, 1948. F. RADINSKY 2,450,613

MECHANICAL r001. TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 19, 1944 Patented Oct. 5, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,450,613 MECHANICAL POOL TABLE Felix Radinsky, Olympia, Wash. Application July 19, 1944, Serial No. 545,583

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to game tables or like devices and more particularly to a mechanical pool table by means of which the wellknown game of pool may be simulated in many of the various aspects thereof and in which con-' siderable skill may be exercised by the operator of the device in selectively performing a plurality of different direct pocket shots or a plurality of combinations of bank or cushion-topocket shots thereon, thus affording amusement, entertainment, and tests of skill to those who operate the device.

According to the invention, a coin controlled means is provided for releasing a predetermined number of balls for each coin deposited in the device whereby a plurality of persons equal in number to the number of balls released may play the game on one coin, each ball after being played being returned either by way of one of the pockets or by way of a gate to a locked position beneath the bed of the table from which it can be released for further play only upon the deposit of an additional. coin.

The balls thus released are admitted one by one to an elevator by means of which the balls are elevated onto a receiver therefor disposed within the aforesaid gate, the receiver being operatively connected to the elevator whereby the receiver is moved into a ball receiving position when the elevator is operated and the receiver is arranged in such a manner as to prevent balls returning to the gate from moving onto the receiver.

Means are provided for manipulating the position of the ball receiver on the bed of the table, thereby to spot the ball pursuant to the performance of a, particular pocket or cushion-topocket shot which appeals to the fancy of the operator, a spring loaded cue, also manipulatable for this purpose, being provided to impel the ball.

The bed and the pockets of the table are enclosed so as to be inaccessible to the operator. The aforedescribed functions of the device, however, are rendered manipulatable externally thereof by the provision of external control means for the ball releasing means, elevator, ball receiver, and cue, as will more clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention not specifically set forth hereinabove are those'inherent in or implied from the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter to be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed which is constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a, plan view of a mechanical pool table constructed in accordance with a'preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the table taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional view as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a fragmentary por-' tion of the table shown in Figure 1 in which the elevator and ball receiving and spotting means are shown in greater detail,

Figure 7 is a sectional view line 1-1 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the coin receiver and levers controlled thereby as viewed substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a plan view of the in Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line ill-40 of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a sectional view as seen along the line ll-ll of Figure 9, and v Figure 12 is a view partly in plan and partly in section of the coin receiver as viewed substantially along the line l2-l2 of Figure 8.

Referring now tothe drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, the numeral l5 generally designates a mechanical pool table according to a preferred-embodiment of the invention, it being understood that in carrying out the principles thereof many changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

The table l5 comprises a bed or surface I6 over which the balls are impelled. The bed is surrounded by side walls l'l to which suitable legs [8 for the table are secured, the legs at the operators end of the table being shorter than the legs at the other end thereof such that the bed is inclined somewhat from the horizontal in order that a ball thereon will be returned to an arcuate taken along the along the taken along the parts illustrated gate or opening [9 therein in the event that the same, the coin then falling to a suitable retainer therefor, not shown. It wil1 be understood that the glass cover may be hinged to the table I5 by means of suitable hinges 94 and may be locked thereto as by suitable latch means 95 and lock 96 therefor whereby the coins collected in the table may be removed therefrom only by a person in possession of a key to the lock.

When rod or gate 54 is withdrawn from passageway 44 as cylinder 95 is returned to the coin receiving position thereof, the leading ball in the passageway abuts against the turned up edge of a leaf spring 91 supported at the opposite end thereof by runway 35 and disposed beneath a ball elevator generally designated 98. Elevator 98 may be formed in any manner adapted to force spring 91 down so that one ball may be moved onto the elevator and elevated thereby to a position above bed It from which position the ball may thereafter roll upon a ball receiver 99. When the elevator is moved to raise the ball, spring 91- moves up to block the passageway thereby releasing but one ball at a time therefrom.

In the form as illustrated, elevator 98 comprises a tube I about which a pair of spaced wires IOI, I02 each is wound in a full turn and secured thereto as by solder, the wires being spaced just sufficiently to support a ball therebetween. One end of each wire IOI, I02 is bent substantially at right angles and is thereafter doubled back upon itself to join the other end of the wire to which it is secured as by solder, thereby providing a closed V therebetween. The first mentioned end of the Wire thereafter is bent to form a U, the bight portion of which forms the seat for the ball entering the elevator and the leg of the U opposite the doubled back portion thereof serves to guide the ball as it rolls therealong to receiver 99. If desired, one or more guides I03 may be mounted on bed I9 to insure that the ball will not move off the elevator laterally thereof.

Elevator 98 is supported on a rod I04 for rotation therewith, the rod being extended through tube I00 and having an arm I05 secured thereto as by a set screw I06, to which arm a wire I01 from elevator 98 is secured. At this point on the elevator, wires I0l, I02 are joined as by a wire I08 thereby to provide a iixed spacing therebetween and a rigid structure.

Rod I04 conveniently may be journalled in the table side wall I! with the end of the rod projecting beyond the wall to receive a control lever I09 for manipulating elevator 98 exteriorly of table I5. A suitable slot or opening I2I is provided in bed I6 through which the elevator 98 is adapted to move as lever I09 is operated.

Rod I04 also supports an idling pulley IIO which is free to rotate thereon. A belt III is trained about pulley III) and also about a driving pulley II2 to which it is secured. Driving pulley H2 is secured to a shaft II3 for rotation there- 'with, shaft I I3 also conveniently being journalled in side wall I1 and being extended outwardly therefrom to receive a knob I I4 by manipulation of which the driving pulley may be caused to rotate and move belt III. Belt III is secured to a lever II-5 one end of which is pivotally supported on a vertical pivot IIB carried by side wall I! and the other end of which extends to arcuate gate or slot I9. Thisend gles to enter slot I9, and the sides are bent forward to support a shaft II'I upon which the ball receiver 99 is pivotally supported. Accordingly, movement of knob II4 causes receiver 99 and the ball thereon to assume different positions on bed of lever I I5 is'bent at right an- 1 I9, thus providing means for spotting the ball thereon.

Rod I04 also supports a segmented pulley H8 secured thereto for rotation therewith. A suitable belt or cable H9 is secured to pulley H8 and trained .thereover to make connection with a coil spring I20, the other end of lever I I5. By reason of this arrangement, as control lever I09 is operated to elevate aball to receiver 99, the receiver is moved into a position to receive the ball as it rolls off of the elevator.

Ball receiver 99 may be formed in any manner adapted to retain a ball thereon, being formed, as illustrated, of a single length of wire, the ends of which are Wound about shaft II'I to form a loop I22 depended therefrom and amp-shaped portion I23 projected forwardly therefrom and comprising the double-backed ends of the wire. A weak spring I24 also is coiled about shaft In to bias cup portion I23 upwardly in order to prevent a ball moving toward gate I9 from moving onto receiver 99; The weight of a ball on the receiver 99, however; is sufiicient to yieldably overcome the biasing action of spring I24 whereby the ball may be impelled from the receiver in a position'thereof substantially flush with the surface of bed I0.

The means for impelling the ball comprises a spring loaded cue generally designated I25. Cue I25 comprises a tube I26 which projects through a suitable opening I21 inside wall I'I arranged to permit lateral swinging movement of the tube about a vertical pivotal support I28 therefor. Pivot I28 preferably is substantially aligned coaxially with pivot H0 in order that cue tip I29 secured to a plunger I30 may be caused to lie adjacent to a hall on receiver 99 as the receiver and one tip are moved along arcuate opening I9 about their respective pivots I I6, I28 in spotting the ball and directing or aiming the cue thereat pursuant to performing a selected shot.

Power for impelling the ball issupplied by a coil spring I3I arranged about'plunger I30 between a pin I32 carried thereby and tube I26, power being stored in spring .I3I as the same is compressed when plunger I30 is pulled rearwardly by means of a suitable knob I33 secured thereto. Cue tip I29, therefore, strikes the ball under power of spring I3I when knob I33 is released, the force of the blow being determined, in each case, by. the extent to which the spring is compressed. A coil spring I34 preferably is arranged about plunger I30 between tube I20 and knob I33 to cushion the forward movement of the plunger, thereby to prevent damage to the cue and support therefor otherwise arising from the inpact. V

From the foregoin description of the table I5, the operation thereof should now be apparent. Accordingly, a brief description of the operation will suffice.

Coin control lever 10 is pulled all the way back in order to receive a coin of the proper size into slot I3 by way of slot 'I2 of coin receiver 60: Lever I0 is now moved all the way forward to admit balls to passageway 44 and to prevent the movement of the balls therethrough until lever I0 thereafter is pulled all the way back, as explained in the foregoing.

The balls are now ready to be elevated one by one to the ball receiver 99. This is accomplished by first moving control lever I09 in a clockwise direction to depress spring 91 so that a ball may enter elevator 98. Lever I09 is now rotated counter clockwise to deliver the ball to the receiver which is secured to 7 which also moves toward the'ele'vator as lever N39 is rotated be ause of the connections therebetween. a v

Knob H4 is now rotated to spot the ball on bed IS in a selected position thereon to suit the fancy of the operator. Knob I33 is .now moved laterally'to align the one tip- I29 behind the ball and to aim the cue in the intended line of travel of the ball the impellin'g blow being delivered thereto by withdrawing plunger I39 to a desired ex tent and thereafter releasing it.

It is obvious that various ways of playing dif ferent games on the pool table will be suggested to those who operate the device. For example, difie rent scoring values may be assigned to the diiferent pocket holes and to the various alley holes andfor various bank shots. Also, ditferent persons mayplay successive dered available by the insertion of a single coin into the device.

While this invention has been described in para ticularity with respect to an example thereof which gives satisfactory results, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention app'ertainsthat the same is susceptible of additional embodiments, variations, and additions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1'. In a mechanical pool table, the combination of a bed inclined .from the horizontal, an arouate gate arranged at the lower end of the bed for passing balls therethrough, means arranged within said gate for supporting a ball thereon in a ball impelling position, pivotally mounted elevating means for moving a ball from a position beneath the bed to a position from which it will be conveyed by gravity from the elevating means directly onto said supporting means, means for yieldably urging said supporting means into a position for preventing a ball from rolling thereupon from the bed, means for mving said supporting means along said arcuate balls ren- 8". gate thereby to spot the ball on the bed, and a ball ifnpelling meahs'movable independently of the ball supporting means behind the ball in the spotted position thereof and aimed in an intended line of travel of the ball.

2. In a mechanical pool table, the combination of a bed inclined from the horizontal, a gate arranged at the lower end of the bed for passing balls therethl'ollgh, means movably arranged within said gate for supporting a ball thereon in a ball impellin'g position, pivotally mounted elevating means for moving a ball from a position beneath the bed and for conveying the ball by gravitytherefrom directly onto said supporting means, means actuated by the elevating means for moving the ball supporting means into a posi tion to receive the ball from the elevating means and a ball impelling means swingably and slidably movable behind. the ball on said supporting means and independently thereof to be aimed in an intended line of travel of the ball.

FELIX RADINSKY.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this "patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 1 Aug. 30. 1-934 

